A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

What is it

At a different time NBA players signed standard contracts, over time agreements between the players association and owners has brought about change. I was familiar with the contracts but not the details, because a number of you have the same degree of knowledge I thought it necessary to do a deep dive on these contracts. This exercise began with me reading the Lakers had signed several players to Exhibit 10 contracts, while others received two-way deals. Although my interest began with the Lakers, other NBA teams utilize these agreements as well.

I thought they were worth exploring because I was not fully sure what each contract involved. According to information I found online, an Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary NBA deal, usually used to bring undrafted rookies or free agents into training camp and Summer League. A two-way contract, meanwhile, allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate. Each NBA team may carry up to three two-way players, who earn a set salary equal to half the rookie minimum and are not eligible for postseason play.

A common thread

Derrick Rose, John Wall, DeAaron Fox and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, names familiar to all NBA fans. Those are point guards who began their NBA careers after playing in college for one coach, who might that coach be is the question. Before I provide the answer some of you are excellent detectives, you have the name in advance of me providing it. His name, John Calipari and currently he’s head basketball coach at Arkansas and we can debate how much or how little he contributed but all those point guards played for Calipari at Memphis, Kentucky and soon Arkansas. You are trying to figure out….Arkansas?

He is Darius Acuff Jr. and he too is a point guard who played for Calipari, as for Acuff Jr. he was chosen the number 7 pick by the Kings in the June draft. As for the coach his journey has led him from UMass to Memphis then Kentucky and now Arkansas. He’s been at this love for 32 years, I use the term love to describe what this coach has accomplished, Calipari’s record at these stops total 905 wins and 286 losses (.760). The coach has his detractors, many claim “He’s a great recruiter but not good at the X’s and O’s of the game.” They also point toward the wins vacated while he was at UMass and Memphis as examples of him skirting the rules. Sorry if you expected this to be a formal accusation against Coach Cal, he’s one of the coaches I believe continues to excel at his craft.

No. 1 Picks and the Hall of Fame: Part I

What connection exists between the top NBA draft pick and the Naismith Hall of Fame? For this discussion, I think it’s only fair to exclude players drafted in 2021 or later, so I’ll use 2000-2020 as the measuring period. Let’s begin. In 2000, the New Jersey Nets made Kenyon Martin the number one pick. He became a solid NBA player, but not one likely to be enshrined. In 2001, the Wizards selected Kwame Brown first overall; again, a good player, but not Hall of Fame material. Yao Ming, chosen by the Rockets in 2002, is already in the Naismith Hall.

LeBron James, selected by the Cavaliers in 2003, clearly has one foot in the door. In 2004, the Magic took Dwight Howard first overall; whether he belongs is, in my opinion, open for debate. Andrew Bogut was first and to the Bucks in 2005, and while he had a good career, the Hall of Fame answer is no. The same applies to Andrea Bargnani, Toronto’s choice in 2006. In 2007, injuries cut short Greg Oden’s potential career. Derrick Rose went first to the Bulls in 2008, followed by Blake Griffin to the Clippers in 2009; in both cases, you can be the judge. That covers the top picks through 2009, the players selected from 2010-2020 will be discussed in a later edition.

The return

When it was announced Austin Reaves was returning to the Lakers I thought it was good news. There are defensive issues in his game but I believe he brings a great deal more to the table offsetting that one issue. That’s the good for the Lakers, up to this point there is no bad just a question on my part. Last season I found myself excited with the prospect of adding Big Man Deandre Ayton to the Lakers roster. After a good early season start it appeared he regressed, I cannot provide a day or date. Ayton’s production was mostly roller-coaster good game-bad game and this trend continued to his media comment. The Laker post man indicated he didn’t want to be a Clint Capela or similar words.

What I found personally concerning was this fact, Capela at one time was a consistent double-double performer for the Hawks and early with the Rockets. He led the NBA in rebounding for the 2020-21 season. That provides you a basis for why I believe Ayton’s attitude was questionable, then the playoffs began. He would play good in the team’s win over the Rockets but all but disappear against the Thunder. In fairness to Ayton the Thunder are a very good team however he didn’t appear motivated at times during the series. Fast forward to the present day and pending free agency, Ayton opted in with the Lakers, this move places him on the team for the time being. As this was being completed word came Jaxson Hayes signed a deal with the Jazz and is no longer a Laker, this move leaves Ayton as backup for now if he remains on the roster. NOTE: Ayton was traded soon after this was written.